Penguins win Stanley Cup

Pittsburgh earned the fourth NHL crown in franchise history Sunday with a 3-1 win over the Sharks at SAP Center, a victory accomplished in the manner that was a common thread through Pittsburgh’s postseason run and the Stanley Cup Finals.

Pittsburgh was simply faster than any other team in the NHL, including a Sharks team that did all it could to hang but just didn’t have enough to generate offense or prevent the Pens from producing chance after chance in the series.

San Jose’s struggles to penetrate were epitomized by its managing only one shot on goal during the first 19 minutes of the final period - a wrist shot by Logan Couture at 3:45.

The Penguins snuffed out the Sharks’ final hopes when Patric Hornqvist scored into an empty net at 18:58 on an assist from Penguins captain — and Conn Smythe winner as the MVP of the playoffs — Sidney Crosby.

The Penguins scored the only goal of a fast-paced opening period, the fifth time in six games Pittsburgh scored the game’s first goal.

The visitors had two of the game’s first three shots when Pittsburgh defenseman Brian Dumoulin drew a tripping penalty from San Jose left wing Dainius Zubrus at 7:50.

[...] just as the Pens did in Game 4 when Zubrus committed the first penalty, Pittsburgh converted in short order.

Dumoulin delayed at the left point, turning Sharks’ penalty-killing forward Melker Karlsson around, then fired through the right winger’s legs and past the screened Jones at 8:16.

San Jose was finally rewarded for a hard push to open the middle period when Couture’s wrist shot on the move from the edge of the left circle squirreled through Penguins goalie Matt Murray at 6:27.

Sharks defenseman Brent Burns made the play, knocking down a Pittsburgh clear at the line, then — instead of dumping the puck — made a great lateral entry pass to lead Couture.

[...] no sooner had the Sharks tied the game than the Penguins forged back ahead, for good as it turned out, to take a 2-1 lead into the second intermission.

On the shift after Couture’s goal, Crosby’s great pass found defenseman Kris Letang, who one-timed his third goal of the series past a late-moving Jones at 7:46.

San Jose was without the services of top shutdown defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic for 10 minutes of the period.

[...] Jones did his best again to deny Pittsburgh at every turn.

The Sharks, held to only four shots on goal, would have loved to put more pressure on Murray, who struggled to handle the few shots cleanly.

Left wing Matt Nieto’s slap shot during a mini break at 6:58 produced a rebound in the slot, but teammate Chris Tierney skated too deep to follow.

Right wing Joel Ward had a step on Pittsburgh’s defense, and was poised to put a shot on Murray, but Penguins forward Chris Kunitz made a diving poke check to deny the opportunity.

Penguins